Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Explained

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC; known as the QAs) was the nursing branch of the British Army Medical Services.

In November 2024, the corps was amalgamated with the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Army Dental Corps to form the Royal Army Medical Service.

History

Although an "official" nursing service was not established until 1881, the corps traces its heritage to Florence Nightingale, who was instrumental in lobbying for the support of female military nurses.^[2] The Army Nursing Service, which had been established in 1881, and which from 1889 provided Sisters for all Army hospitals with at least 100 beds,^[3] had only a small number of nurses in its employ. In 1897, in an effort to have nurses available if needed for war, the service was supplemented by Princess Christian's Army Nursing Service Reserve (PCANSR). Nurses registered for the service and by the beginning of the First Boer War the reserve had around 100 members, but swelled its membership to over 1400 during the conflict. PCANSR eventually became the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service.^[4] On 27 March 1902,^[5] Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was established by Royal Warrant, and was named after Queen Alexandra, who became its president.^[6] In 1949, the QAIMNS became a corps in the British Army and was renamed as the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. Since 1950 the organisation has trained nurses, and in 1992 men were allowed to join.^[3]

The associated Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association is a registered charity. Queen Alexandra was president from 1902 until her death in 1925. The following year she was succeeded by Queen Mary.^[7]

Amalgamation

The Secretary of State for Defence announced on 15 October 2024, that it will amalgamate with the Royal Army Dental Corps and Royal Army Medical Corps to form one unified corps, the Royal Army Medical Service.^[8]

The Army Nursing Service

Five early members of the Army Nursing Service trained at The London Hospital under Eva Luckes, and went onto become Superintendents. They also later served in the QAIMNS.

• May Russell, joined in 1885, promoted in 1893.^[9]
• Ann Garriock, joined in 1886, promoted in 1899.^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Grey and Scarlet – The Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Quick March.
2. Web site: Army Medical Services. www.army.mod.uk.
3. Book: Gordon, Peter. David. Doughan. Dictionary of British Women's Organisations, 1825–1960. 2001. 120.
4. Book: Piggott, Juliet. Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. 1990. Pen and Sword. Havertown, England. 978-1-4738-1739-5. 37, 53.
5. Juliet Piggott, Famous Regiments: Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Leo Cooper Ltd, 1975) p. 38
6. Naval & Military intelligence – Imperial Military Nursing Service. 28 March 1902 . 8 . 36727.
7. Web site: Skirt worn by Sister A Stewart Wyatt, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, 1902. National Army Museum. 2 October 2016.
8. Web site: The Royal Army Medical Service created to ensure British Army healthcare is fit for the future . The British Army. 15 October 2024.
9. May Elizabeth Russell, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/7286; The National Archives, Kew
10. Sarah Elizabeth Oram, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/6348
11. The War Office record for Caroline Hutton Potts does not appear to have survived. Caroline Hutton Potts, Military Nurses 1856–1994; transcription by Sue Light [Available at: www.findmypast.co.uk, accessed 18 March 2018]
12. Sarah Lucy Wilshaw, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/9073; The National Archives, Kew
13. Matrons Annual Letter, No.1, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.1, May 1894, 9; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
14. 29 July 1898 . New Hospital at Aldershot . . 2.
15. Book: Trombley, Steven . Sir Frederick Treves: The Extra-Ordinary Edwardian . . 1989 . London . 137, 148.
16. Book: Holland, Sydney . In Black and White . . 1926 . London . 186–187.
17. Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders: 1880–1919' (unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)
18. Ethel Hope Becher, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/501; The National Archives, Kew
19. The Minutes of the Fourteenth Nursing Board, 21 January 1903; Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service: Proceedings and Reports; April 1902–March 1903; WO243/20, Vol.1, 113; The National Archives, Kew.
20. 8 April 1905 . Appointments . . 34 . 263.
21. 23 November 1907 . Promotion of Miss Garriock . . 3 . 1029.
22. Emma Maud McCarthy, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/12912; The National Archives, Kew
23. Accepted as Matron: The Minutes of the Sixteenth Nursing Board, 11 February 1903; Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service: Proceedings and Reports; April 1902 – March 1903; WO243/20, Vol.1, 124; The National Archives, Kew.
24. 10 July 1937 . Obituary: Miss M. E. Russell, RRC . . 684 . RCN Historical Nursing Journals Collection, Female Forerunners Worldwide, Cengage-Gale..
25. The Minutes of the Thirty-eighth Nursing Board, 16 March 1904; Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service: Proceedings and Reports; April 1903 – March 1904; WO243/21, Vol.2, 193; The National Archives, Kew.
26. Gertrude Mary Richards, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/6988; The National Archives, Kew
27. The Minutes of the Twenty-seventh Nursing Board, 30 September 1903; Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service:

    Proceedings and Reports; April 1903 – March 1904; WO243/21, Vol.2, 76; The National Archives, Kew.

28. Web site: History of British Army Nursing. Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association. 9 May 2019.
29. News: 11 December 1920 . Territorial Force Nursing Service, City and County of London. Matron-in chief Report. . The Nursing Record . 326 . 65 . 1706.
30. Phased out before 1944.
31. Introduced at some time between 1902 and 1919 as Assistant Matron.
32. Introduced in the 1920s.
33. Web site: Command & Control of Army Nurses. Lt Col (Retd) Keiron Spires QVRM TD. 14 October 2024.
34. Web site: Today we wish a fond farewell to Col... – QARANC Association . 2023-02-01 . Facebook.
35. Such was the expansion of QAIMNS during the First World War that there were three Matrons-in-Chief simultaneously (Becher, McCarthy & Oram).
36. Book: Newman, Vivien. We Also Served: The Forgotten Women of the First World War. 2014. Pen and Sword. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. 978-1-4738-4527-5. 111.
37. . The Passing Bell. The British Journal of Nursing. 29 January 1921. 66. 1713. 3 September 2016. Royal British Nurses Association. London, England. 66.
38. The War Office records for Ann Garriock do not appear to have survived. Ann Garriock, see: Boer War Nurses Database [Available at: <nowiki>http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/pcansr/Research/research</nowiki>, accessed on 14 October 2024].
    • Sarah Elizabeth Oram, joined in 1886, promoted in 1899.^[10]
    • Caroline Hutton Potts, joined in 1887, promoted to Acting Superintendent in 1899.^[11]
    • Sarah Lucy Wilshaw, joined in 1887, promoted to Acting Superintendent in 1900.^[12]
    • Caroline Hodgson, Matron 1893-1904.^{[13] [14]}

    Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS)

    When Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service was formed King Edward VII asked Sir Frederick Treves^[15] and Sydney Holland,^[16] Chairman of the London Hospital for advice. Holland asked Eva Luckes, Matron of The London Hospital for advice.^[17] Several London Hospital supporters were members of the first Army Nursing Board including Sir Frederick Treves; Norah, Lady Roberts; Queen Alexandra – who was a keen supporter and President of The London Hospital from 1904; and London Hospital trained civilian matron of the Westminster Hospital, Mabel Cave. Six of the first 27 matrons and principal matrons had all trained at The London under Eva Luckes.

    • Ethel Hope Becher, GBE, RRC and Bar, Principal Matron, 1903, Matron in Chief, War Office, 1910-1919.^[18]
    • Ann Garriock, RRC, Matron, 1903, Principal Matron - South Africa, 1907-1910.^{[19] [20] [21]}
    • Emma Maud McCarthy, GBE, RRC & Bar, DStJ, Matron, 1903, Principal Matron War Office, 1910-1914, Matron in Chief, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), 1914-1919.^{[22] [23]}
    • Sarah Elizabeth Oram, DBE, RRC, Matron 1903, Principal Matron -South Africa, 1911-1914, Nursing Inspector and attached to BEF 1914-1915, and Matron in Chief (Acting) Eastern Mediterranean Force 1915-1919.
    • May Russell, RRC, Matron, 1903-1911.^[24]
    • Caroline Hutton Potts, Matron,1904-1911.^[25]
    • Gertrude Richards, CBE, RRC, Matron,1904-1919.^{[26] [27]}

    Territorial Force Nursing Service

    The Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) was originally formed to staff the territorial force hospitals at home, and the majority of its members spent their service during World War I in the United Kingdom, not only in the 25 territorial hospitals, but also in hundreds of auxiliary units throughout the British Isles. Within a short time they were also employed in the eighteen territorial hospitals abroad, and alongside their QAIMNS colleagues in military hospitals and casualty clearing stations in France and Belgium, Malta, Salonica, Gibraltar, Egypt, Mesopotamia and East Africa.^{[28] [29]}

    Territorial Army Nursing Service

    The Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS) was formed in 1920, when the Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army. It existed until 1949, when both regular and reserve nurses joined the QARANC. Territorial Army nurses served alongside QAIMNS nurses all over the world, and in all campaigns during World War II.

    Ranks

    The initial ranking system used by the QAIMNS was as follows.

    QAIMNS rank	Equivalent Army rank (from 1941)
    Staff Nurse[30]
    Sister	Lieutenant
    Senior Sister[31]	Captain
    Matron	Major
    Principal Matron	Lieutenant-Colonel
    Chief Principal Matron[32]	Colonel
    Matron-in-Chief	Brigadier

    Senior appointments

    The Colonel in Chief was The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO GCStJ CD. The Corps had two Colonels Commandant, Colonel Andrea Lewis RRC, who was appointed in 2023, and Colonel Kevin Davies MBE RRC OStJ TD DL, who was appointed in 2017.^[33]

    In January 2016 a new post, Chief Nursing Officer (Army), replaced the role of Matron-in-Chief and the Director Army Nursing Services.

    List of Chief Nursing Officers (Army)

    • Colonel Karen J Irvine (January 2016 – January 2018)
    • Colonel Alison McCourt (February 2018 – 2019)
    • Colonel Alison Farmer (December 2019 – Nov 2022)
    • Colonel Paul Jackson (Nov 2022 – Present)^[34]

    List of Matrons-in-Chief QAIMNS/QARANC

    • Dame Sidney Browne (1902–1906)
    • Caroline Keer (1906–1910)
    • Dame Ethel Becher (1910–1919)^[35]
    • Dame Maud McCarthy (1914–1919) (France & Flanders)
    • Dame Sarah Oram (1915–1919) (Middle East)
    • Beatrice Isabel Jones (1916–1920) for Mesopotamia^{[36] [37]}
    • Dame Anne Beadsmore Smith (1919–1924)
    • Florence Hodgins (1924–1928)
    • Rosabelle Osborne (1928–1930)
    • Marguerite Medforth (1930–1934)
    • Daisy Martin, 1934–1938)
    • Catherine Roy (1938–1940)
    • Dame Katharine Jones (1940–1944)
    • Dame Louisa Wilkinson (1944–1946)
    • Lilian Hunnings (1946–1948)
    • Brigadier Dame Anne Thomson (1948–1952)
    • Brigadier Dame Helen Gillespie (1952–1956)
    • Brigadier Dame Monica Golding (1956–1960)
    • Brigadier Dame Barbara Cozens (1960–1964)
    • Brigadier Dame Margot Turner (1964–1968)
    • Brigadier Barbara Gordon (1968–1973)
    • Brigadier Helen Cattanach (1973–1977)
    • Brigadier Joan Moriarty (1977–1981)
    • Brigadier Vera Rooke (1981–1984)
    • Brigadier Rita Hennessy (1985–1989)
    • Brigadier Jill Field (1989–1992)
    • Brigadier Hilary Dixon-Nuttall (1992–1995)
    • Brigadier Jane Arigho (1995–1999)
    • Colonel Bridget McEvilly, 1999–2002)
    • Colonel Kathy George (2002–2005)
    • Colonel John Quinn (2005–2008)
    • Colonel Wendy Spencer (2008–2011)
    • Colonel Pete Childerley (2011–2013)
    • Colonel David Bates (2013–2016)

    List of Matrons-in-Chief TFNS/TANS

    • Dame Sidney Browne (1909–1920)
    • Dame Maud McCarthy (1920–1925)
    • Dame Anne Beadsmore Smith (1925–1931)
    • Rosabelle Osborne (1931–1936)
    • Agatha Phillips (1936–1940)

    See also

    Other army medical services

    • (RAMC)
    • (RAVC)
    • (RADC)

    Other UK nursing institutions

    Further reading

    • Bentley, Hannah. "Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service: A study of female active service during the First World War" (PhD dissertation, University of East Anglia, 2021) online
    • Fell, Alison S. Fell and Christine E. Hallett, eds. First World War Nursing: New Perspectives (Abingdon, 2013)
    • Hall, Coryne. Princesses on the Wards: Royal Women in Nursing through Wars and Revolutions (The History Press, 2014).
    • Hallett, Christine E. Containing Trauma: Nursing Work in the First World War (Manchester UP, 2009)
    • Hallett, Christine E. Veiled Warriors: Allied Nurses of the First World War (Oxford UP, 2014)
    • Hawkins, Sue. Nursing and Women’s Labour in the Nineteenth Century: The Quest for Independence (2010)
    • Hay, Ian. One Hundred Years of Army Nursing (1953)
    • McEwen, Yvonne. In the Company of Nurses: The History of the British Army Nursing Service in the Great War (2014)
    • Noakes, Lucy. Women in the British Army: War and the Gentle Sex, 1907-1948 (2006)
    • Piggott, Juliet. Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Pen and Sword, 1990)
    • Piggott, Juliet. Famous Regiments: Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Leo Cooper Ltd, 1975)
    • Summers, Anne. Angels and Citizens: British Women as Military Nurses 1854-1914 (2000)
    • Taylor, Eric. Wartime Nurse: One Hundred Years from the Crimea to Korea 1854-1954 (2001)

    External links

    • Official website
    • QARANC Association Official website
    • History and information about Army Nurses (QARANC Association Official history website)

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